La Jeune Mère (The Young Mother)

Description

The Young Mother (Le Jeune Mère) is representative of Rodin’s exploration of the human form as a vehicle of expression, to be plied and twisted, stretched and compressed. Dynamic, sensual compositions consisting of intensely expressive forms either physically locked in mutual embrace, such asThe Kiss (Le Baiser), or simply counterposed, like The Young Mother, best demonstrate his interest in challenging eighteenth and nineteenth century sculptural conventions of static form or movement. In The Young Mother, the two figures are turning in opposite directions, forming a spiral-like form. The various degrees of finish, from the rough modeling of the base (Rodin’s name is signed on the back: “A. Rodin”) to the smooth contours of the nude figure, appeal to the sense of touch and affirm the strength of modelling.